Virtual electronic switch system

Abstract

A virtual electronic switch system for a vehicle is provided. In one example, the system includes a switch assembly, a switch interface, and a computer. The switch assembly provides actuators that interface with non-contact sensors in the switch interface. The computer is coupled to the switch interface and assigns functions to each of the actuators. The non-contact sensors detect movement of the actuators and signal the computer, which manipulates an electrical system in the vehicle based on the assigned function.

1. A non-contact vehicle switch system comprising:
 a switch assembly having
 a front end including a plate mountable in the vehicle and customizable first and second user accessible features mounted thereon, and 
 a back end including first and second actuator members coupled to the first and second user accessible features, respectively, wherein the first and second actuator members provide a switch assembly interface; 
 
 a switch interface coupled to the vehicle and configured to engage the switch assembly interface, the switch interface including first and second non-contact sensor units configured to detect a pre-defined movement pattern of the first and second actuator members, respectively; and 
 a computer coupled to the switch interface, wherein the computer is configured receive information from the first and second non-contact sensor units, and to manipulate at least one function of an electrical system using the received information, wherein the manipulated function is selected from a plurality of available functions and assigned to one of the first and second sensor units based on instructions provided to the computer. 
 
     
     
       2. The non-contact vehicle switch system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second non-contact sensor units are optical. 
     
     
       3. The non-contact vehicle switch system of  claim 2  wherein the first non-contact sensor unit has a single optical transmitter positioned opposite a single optical receiver to create an optical beam that is broken when the first actuator member passes between the optical transmitter and optical receiver. 
     
     
       4. The non-contact vehicle switch system of  claim 3  wherein the second non-contact sensor unit includes a first optical transmitter positioned opposite a first optical receiver to create a first optical beam and a second optical transmitter positioned opposite a second optical receiver to create a second optical beam, wherein the first and second optical beams are substantially parallel, and wherein the second actuator member is positioned between the first and second optical beams when in a non-actuated state. 
     
     
       5. The non-contact vehicle switch system of  claim 4  wherein the first actuator member is a push button and the second actuator member is a switch lever. 
     
     
       6. The non-contact vehicle switch system of  claim 4  wherein the second actuator member is biased into the non-actuated state by a plurality of springs. 
     
     
       7. The non-contact vehicle switch system of  claim 6  wherein the second actuator member is centered between first, second, third, and fourth retaining posts, and wherein first, second, third and fourth springs, respectively, connect the first, second, third, and fourth retaining posts to the second actuator member, and wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth springs is configured to resist movement of the second actuator member in a direction away from the respective first, second, third and fourth retaining posts. 
     
     
       8. The non-contact vehicle switch system of  claim 4  wherein the second non-contact sensor unit includes a third optical transmitter positioned opposite a third optical receiver to create a third optical beam and a fourth optical transmitter positioned opposite a fourth optical receiver to create a fourth optical beam, wherein the third and fourth optical beams are substantially parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first and second optical beams, and wherein the second actuator member is positioned between the third and fourth optical beams when in a non-actuated state. 
     
     
       9. The non-contact vehicle switch system of  claim 4  wherein the computer is configured to register the first actuator member passing between the optical transmitter and optical receiver of the first non-contact sensing unit as a single actuation of the first user accessible feature. 
     
     
       10. The non-contact vehicle switch system of  claim 4  wherein the computer is configured to register the second actuator member passing between the first optical transmitter and first optical receiver as a first actuation of the second user accessible feature, and wherein the computer is configured to register the second actuator member passing between the second optical transmitter and second optical receiver as a second actuation of the second user accessible feature, wherein the first and second actuations correspond to first and second functions, respectively, of the at least one electrical system. 
     
     
       11. The non-contact vehicle switch system of  claim 10  wherein the computer is configured to manipulate the first function as long as the first actuator member is positioned between the between the first optical transmitter and first optical receiver. 
     
     
       12. The non-contact vehicle switch system of  claim 1  wherein the computer automatically detects a function associated with each of the first and second actuator members when the switch assembly is coupled to the switch interface. 
     
     
       13. A virtual electronic switch system comprising:
 a first switch assembly having a plurality of first actuators coupled to a first support structure, wherein each of the plurality of first actuators includes a first user manipulatable portion accessible from a first external faceplate and a first actuator portion that extends through the first external faceplate; 
 a switch interface having a plurality of non-contact sensors configured to mate with the first actuator portions of the plurality of first actuators, wherein each of the plurality of non-contact sensors is configured to detect movement within a defined movement range for each of the corresponding first actuator portions; and 
 a computer coupled to the switch interface and configured to receive information about the first switch assembly, wherein the information includes a position and a function assigned to each of the plurality of first actuators and associated non-contact sensors, wherein the function assigned to a particular one of the plurality of first actuators and non-contact switches is selected from a plurality of available functions, and wherein the computer is configured to receive a signal from one of the plurality of non-contact sensors indicating a detected movement of the corresponding first actuator portion and to execute the function included in the information in response to the received signal. 
 
     
     
       14. The virtual electronic switch system of  claim 13  wherein receiving information about the first switch assembly includes retrieving the information from a memory based on identification information provided to the computer. 
     
     
       15. The virtual electronic switch system of  claim 13  further comprising a second switch assembly having a plurality of second actuators coupled to a second support structure, wherein each of the plurality of second actuators includes a second user manipulatable portion accessible from a second external faceplate and a second actuator portion that extends through the second external faceplate, wherein the second user manipulatable portions differ from the first user manipulatable portions and wherein the second actuator portions are identical to the first actuator portions. 
     
     
       16. The virtual electronic switch system of  claim 15  wherein the computer is configured to receive information about the second switch assembly, wherein the information includes a position and a function assigned to each of the plurality of second actuators, and wherein the function of each of the plurality of second actuators differs from the function of each of the plurality of first actuators for first and second actuators having the same position. 
     
     
       17. The virtual electronic switch system of  claim 13  wherein the computer is configured to assign a different function than that identified in the information to at least one of the plurality of first actuators and associated non-contact sensors. 
     
     
       18. The virtual electronic switch system of  claim 17  wherein the different function is not present in the received information. 
     
     
       19. The virtual electronic switch system of  claim 17  wherein the different function is present in the received information but assigned to another one of the plurality of first actuators and associated non-contact sensors.